CBD is an abbreviation for cannabidiol. It’s one of the most prevalent cannabinoids in cannabis plants, and it’s non-psychoactive. This means that, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD won’t make you high or stoned. One of the reasons people are so interested in taking CBD oil is that they want to reap all its potential benefits without getting “high.”
High CBD strains are increasingly popular among medical marijuana patients who need relief from pain, anxiety, inflammation, and more – but what makes a strain high CBD? Growing methods greatly affect how much CBD your plant produces; learn more about growing the best High CBD Strains!
What Is the Key To Building a High CBD Cannabis Strain?
High-CBD strains result from a combination of factors which include:
Stress tolerance: It’s been shown that the plant produces more CBD in response to stresses like heat, pests, and lack of nutrients.
Seed variety (or lack thereof): Many breeders are creating High-CBD strains by breeding Sativa with ruderalis because they produce little to no THC under normal conditions.
Growing environment: High-intensity lighting combined with CO2 can improve yield even further! Also, vertical stacking makes it easier for plants to absorb nutrients and sunlight (read why here ). One thing is for sure – you will not be able to grow high-CBD strains indoors; they require at least 7 hours of direct sunlight every day!
Related article: Purple Afghani Cannabis Strain
Test Your Seeds Before Plantation
Before planting your seeds, it’s a good idea to know their potency. High-CBD strains are much easier to grow if you’re planning on extracting CBD for medicinal use – but how can you tell what your seeds will produce?
It turns out that hemp plants have something called “auto-flowering” genes. These aren’t the same as being male or female, but they do affect how much THC and CBD are produced. These are likely only present in high-THC strains due to breeding – so before planting your seeds, test them!
There are a few different ways to test your seeds, but the simplest way is to germinate them and observe their gender. This can be done by placing them in a glass of water for 2-3 days, then transferring them to the soil once they root. In as little as ten days, you should be able to see the difference between male and female plants!
If all goes well, your female plants will flower within four weeks – this is when they will start showing THC and CBD levels if they have been bred to have high potency. Male hemp plants only live for around three weeks before dying off; if you find any males growing among your crop (which can happen even if there were no male seeds), make sure to remove them immediately!
Harvest At The Right Time
There is incorrect information being passed around online, which says that harvesting late will increase THC production. It’s the opposite; harvesting your plant before it “goes to flower” can increase CBD production.
High-THC strains are harvested closer to the beginning of flowering, while growers harvesting for CBD wait until later in the season. Some growers also let their plants turn amber (brown) on purpose to obtain a higher concentration – this is called “curing.” Regardless, you should always harvest your buds at the right time!
Get The Right Temperature
Cannabis plants are known to have higher CBD concentrations at lower temperatures – but the optimal temperature remains somewhat of a mystery. Some believe that it’s 20°C/68°F since this is where some strains were originally grown in outdoor environments. Others think that the nighttime temperature matters more, as this is when your plant performs its breathing process, which stimulates trichome production. Regardless of what you believe, keeping your grow room around 18°-24°C/64°-75°F will result in healthy plants with high CBD content!
Does the Growing Process Affect the CBD Content?
Yes, growing practices have a huge impact on CBD production. We aren’t likely ever to be able to boost cannabinoid expression by manipulating the plant – but we can control how much of it gets synthesized into THC and CBD!
For example, allowing your plants to “go to flower” too early will trigger those plants to test as being high-THC. This is because even though you haven’t been feeding them any extra fertilizers or nutrients, these plants are still receiving nutrients from the soil. In addition, lights provide energy that the plant uses for its metabolism, including reactions to making cannabinoids.
Excessive nitrogen during vegetative growth leads to higher levels of CBG (a cannabinoid that has no psychoactive effects) instead of other cannabinoids. This is one of the reasons why you may end up growing “ruderalis” plants; they are sometimes left in the vegetative cycle too long before being switched to flowering!
Related article: Grease Monkey Weed Strain
The Top 3 High CBD Marijuana Strains
In order to maximize CBD content from a plant, you must choose the right parents. If you’re looking for a high-CBD strain that will be grown outside or indoors with intense lighting, look no further than our list of High-CBD strains below:
1. ACDC
This strain was bred by crossing Cannatonic with Afghani strains. It has a very high CBD content (up to 20%) and little THC (less than 1%). The highest levels of CBD are found in flowers near the plant’s central cola; these contain about 25-27% CBD!
2. Harlequin
Harlequin is another excellent choice if you’re looking for a balanced Sativa that is easy to grow. Its CBD content is at 5%, but it also contains roughly 7% THC, which gives this strain an “equal ratio” of mind and body effects.
3. Sour Tsunami
Sour Tsunami is an Indica dominant hybrid, so growers will love how short and easy to grow it is! It may be hard to come by at times, but Sour Tsunami tests around 8% CBD. With its mellow nature and lack of paranoia effects compared with other high-CBD strains, this medicine is an excellent choice for patients looking for relief from inflammation, chronic pain, depression, or anxiety.
Related article: Snow Lotus Weed Strain
In closing,
We hope that this article has helped you understand what it takes to grow high CBD strains. When considering the growth process, keep in mind how your plants will change over time and take notes on any changes so you can compare them at different stages of development. What is the best strain for beginners? Share your thoughts below.